IBM and Sony are partnering on a project to develop a bold learning platform for students. It will makes use of the blockchain technology. On August 9, IBM announced their collaboration with Sony Global Education, a Sony subsidiary which provides global education services. The uses of blockchain for education is a novel idea we may have all been waiting for.
One other advantage of the bold platform is that it allows the student the leeway to study for a particular specialization or specific field of study.
IBM Blockchain will be used as the backbone, and this system is based on the IBM Cloud. The aim of the project is to create a platform which will consolidate school achievements with entries from both schools and students. This allows both professors and students to track the latter’s progress. In addition, this bold move creates inherent transparency and accountability, features that come with blockchain technology.
Uses of Blockchain for Education Include Alternative Learning Platforms
With the uses of blockchain for education, school administrators can manage and consolidate information about students. This is true whether these come from multiple schools or from non-traditional learning experiences. These include home-schooling, vocational schools, apprenticeships, or online courses.
The digital trail which comes with blockchain technology allows the information to be kept secure and tamper-proof. It also allows for the addition of information with every enrollment. Blockchain t can serve as a digital transcript. It may later help the individual when he or she applies for a job in the future. Companies benefit as well, as they may easily verify the information the student provides via the platform.
Blockchain technology is usually associated with bitcoin and cryptocurrency. The security features of blockchains, however, are robust tools on their own. This is what makes cryptocurrency secure basis for transactions. It is also the reason for its usage as the underlying technology in this educational platform.
Blockchain Enhances Verification
Simply put, the problem is that of verification and accreditation. Before the internet, all the information about a student was stored in actual physical documents. To verify a person’s transcripts, any person or company who needs this must contact the school administration and request the student’s transcript. With blockchain tech, these transcripts would be part of the information kept electronically. Each blockchain is unique due to the information it stores. In essence, it is the whole academic record of the student.
With the advent of online courses, the verification process for employment becomes harder. One challenge is that some websites that offer online courses might no longer be in operation when the student applies for a job. To verify online courses, the school attaches the student’s transcript from the website or online firm as soon as the data is available, as part of the certification process.
IBM Japan’s representatives also confirmed to Bitcoin Magazine that even small preparatory schools and specialized cram schools (specialized institutions that train their students to meet particular goals like getting good grades or passing entrance examinations) can attach student credentials to the blockchain.
Other Advantages of Blockchain in Education
One other advantage of the bold platform is that it allows the student the leeway to study for a particular specialization. It can also work for a specific field of study. The data on the blockchain will show what other courses or subjects that the student needs to take in order to qualify for whatever requirements that certification exam requires. This will lead to less duplication of studies or courses.
In addition to the uses of blockchain for education, when the student information is presented, it is a simple matter of sharing the data instead of submitting all the transcripts to each institution. Universities, colleges, schools, and other learning institutions can share information about the student. After university, the same blockchain technology can be shared between potential employers which can use the information to evaluate whether the candidate is a fit for their organization.